Bachelors and Masters in Health Management and Administration in Indiana

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development projects that the number of medical and health services managers in the state will increase by 22.1 percent in the ten-year period leading up to 2022. In fact, the number of management jobs in Indiana’s health services sector is growing faster than management jobs in any other sector.

This high growth rate in the number of management jobs in the healthcare sector has contributed to Indiana having the 12th-highest number of medical and health services managers in the nation (US Department of Labor, 2014). An attractive annual salary of $86,460 (2014) is yet another contributing factor.

Yet a third reason healthcare management and administration careers are so popular in Indiana is that they are supported by state and federal investments. After the passage of the Affordable Care Act, Indiana’s governor opted to expand Medicaid coverage to all residents who qualified. This led to an additional 77,392 Indiana residents enrolling and gaining access to insurance. To-date, the state has received federal funding to the tune of $7.9 million to support its healthcare marketplace (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2015).

Healthcare Administration Degrees in Indiana

Indiana is home to over a dozen colleges and universities that offer relevant degree programs for new and experienced professionals aspiring to advance in the field of healthcare administration and management.

Undergraduate Degrees in Healthcare Administration and Management

While a degree in general business can be advantageous, completing an education in a more specific major can better prepare students for careers in this field:

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Healthcare Administration

Bachelor of Health Administration (BHA)

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Healthcare Management

These programs consist of around 120 semester credits. These credits are divided equally between general undergraduate courses and upper-division courses. An associate’s degree can fulfill up to two years of general courses depending on a school’s credit transfer policy.

In addition to online options, relevant degree programs are available in:

Richmond

Muncie

Fort Wayne

Gary

Marion

Huntington

Kokomo

Evansville

Graduate Degrees in Healthcare Administration and Management

Today a graduate degree in the healthcare administration and management field is a generally accepted industry standard. Completing a graduate degree program is often a preferred qualification, if not a requirement, to progress to higher-level positions.

Some of the relevant degree programs in this field include:

Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)

Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Healthcare Management or Administration

MSN/MBA or MHA/MBA dual degree programs

Master of Science in Healthcare Administration (MSHA)

Graduate Program Admission Criteria

While admission criteria will differ from school to school, some commonly shared elements include:

Completion of a bachelor’s degree – graduate schools in this field often accept students who have a bachelor’s degree in any subject

Completion of specific course prerequisites with a minimum GPA

Personal essay

Letters of recommendation

Several years of professional work experience

Some programs require current employment in the healthcare industry

A graduate program in healthcare administration and management takes between 18-24 months to complete, totaling between 36-60 semester credits. Many programs may also require a thesis or capstone research project as a final project before graduation.

Students will learn advanced concepts that pertain to important topics such as:

Strategy for management of large healthcare organizations

Global economics for healthcare managers

Medical informatics

Compliance for accreditation

Quality performance statistics and improvement

Health economics

Healthcare policy and law

Quantitative methods for healthcare organizations

Service line development

In addition to online opportunities designed for working professionals, students can find graduate programs located in:

West Lafayette

Indianapolis

Marion

Evansville

Anderson

Working in Healthcare Administration

After completing a degree program, professional graduates will be ready to start searching for career opportunities throughout the state. The following job descriptions were drawn from vacancy announcements across Indiana (October, 2015). These are provided as illustrative examples for those who want to gain a sense of what Indiana’s job market looks like:

Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes

Director of Outpatient Operations – Responsible for providing overall leadership to the department, especially in regards to business operations; preferred candidates hold an MHA, MBS, MSW, or other related graduate degree

Financial Analyst – Using financial data and statistics, this professional informs managers of projected needs and deficits; applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, finance, or another related field

Physician Practice Operations Manager – Works with physicians to ensure goals are met and standards upheld; applicants must have a relevant bachelor’s degree in a field such as healthcare management

Riverview Health in Noblesville

Director of Operations – Responsible for the management of daily operational and financial aspects of the clinic; applicants must have at least a bachelor’s degree in health administration, business, or finance, with a preference given to candidates who hold an MHA or MBA

Executive Director – Leads the implementation of daily operations, working with department directors, product line leadership, and other department representatives; highly preferred candidates have an MHA, MBA, MD, MSN, or other related degree

Local Resources for Healthcare Administrators and Managers

Those looking for career resources in Indiana will find a number of outlets that provide information about employment and professional opportunities.